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BY ADELAIDE SKEEL AND DAVID BARCLAY. 

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Major Patrick MacGregorie, with his brother-in-law, David Toshack, 
the Laird of Minivaird, came to America from Scotland in 1G84, with a 
company of about fifty followers or servants. Major MacGregorie prob- 
ably belonged to the MacGregor sept, a clan noted for its indomitable 
courage, claiming descent from Gregor, third son of King Alpin, and 
boasting the motto, " Srioghal mo dhream. Royal is my race." 

Scarcely anything is known of Major MacGregorie's personal history 
previous to his emigration, except that he is described as a gentleman 
who served formerly in France. It was during the " killing times " in 
Scotland that these men set sail for the New World. East Nevv Jersey, 
the destination of the company, was under the governorship of Robert 
Barclay, Tyhose instructions to his Deputy, Gawn Lawrie, show the ap- 
pointment of both MacGregorie and Toshack to positions of trust. The 
document, dated London, August 1st, 1684, names '' David Toshack of 
Monyweai'd, Partner with James Earl of Perth and Sir George McKinzie 

or Tarbutt, and Prosy for them Captain Patrick Magriger " ' 

and others. 

The voyage to America and the arrival is described in a letter, pre- 
sumably from the Major, dated Amboy, or New Perth, in America, No- 
vember 9th, 1G84, wherein he writes: " Having accidentally met with 
the Bearer had not time to give you any particular accompt of this 
Countrey only assure you that it is beyond (not only) all our expec- 
tations but all that ever you have heard spoken of it. We (praised be 
God) all of us arrived safely without loss of any one Passenger scarcely 
any of them was ever sick only we had much trouble coming from Mary- 
land by land our Skipper having for his oavu advantage put in first at the 
Capes of Verginia but we have had a brave Prospect of the Countrey and 
all the way as well as in this place where now we are, we found plenty 
of Corn and all kinds of Fruit, Venison and wild Fowls in such abun- 
dance that a Deer may be had for 2 shilling Countrey money and Turkies 
for 6 pence which will be at least as big as any 2 Turkies in Scotland and 
are really Turkies only blacker than tame Turkies that you have seen." ^ 

The Major's interests Avere at first identified with East New Jersey, 
where he remained till the following year, when he petitioned to take 
up lands on Billop's Point, Staten Island. This petition was possibly the 
means by which Governor Dongan, of New York, heard of his arrival 
in America. Both had served in France and may have been companions- 
in-arms. It is known that MacGregorie and the Laird were persuaded 
by Governor Dongan to settle in the Province of New York. 

Patrick MacGregorie and his companions located on the west bank of 
Hudson's River, at Murderer's Creek, now Moodna, and made there the 



56 HisTOEicAL Papees. 



only settlement on that side of tlie river for a distance of about forty 
miles. 

A petition by the children of Patrick MacGregorie shows that the 
company came " to settle some unimproved lands on the vs^est side 
Hudson's river above the Highlands, which laud v\^as then lately pur- 
chased by the said Colonel Dcngan for the use of his royal Highnesse. 
James, Duke of York and Albany, from the natives at the charge of the 
revenue of this Colony there belonging to said Duke of York, and had 
no other inhabitants upon it but the natives, who V/ere then numerous. 
That by the demise of King Ch. 2nd and the Duke's accession to the 
Crown, the same land became invested in the Crown; that the said Patrick 
Macgregere and David Toshack, with their servants, by Col. Dangan's 
encouragement, did set down and cultivate great part of said land." ^ 

MacGregorie's cabin is said to have been on Couwanham's Hill, now 
Plum Point, on the north side of the stream. Toshack established a 
trading post, the first store in Orange County, on the southern bank upon 
the slope of Sloop Hill. Here the savages brought the skins of tlie 
beavers, then plenty in the vicinity, to be exchanged for goods, tobacco 
and rum. It is of record that both the Major and the Laird becanui 
" masters of the Indian language and insinuated themselves much into 
their favor." 

On June 15th, 1685, shortly after Major MacGregorie's arrival, Gover- 
nor Dongan commissioned him Muster-Master of Militia for the Cit> 
and Province of New York, and gave him these instructions for a tour 
of review and inspection: , 

" You are to go through the Governm't of New York and its Depend- 
encyes and in every towne the Chiefe oflicer of the militia is to draw 
out his company and to muster them and you are to see that all men be 
fitted with sword, musket and bandoliers fltt for service and also to 
get a List of the Constables of all men between the age of sixteen and 
sixty; that they may appeare in theire armes and to give strict order to 
every officer at their Perils to have their company in good order com- 
plete and full; and in the first Reveiew & you are to v\''arn all such 
as are fitted with swords, muskets, bandoliers, &c. that at the next ap- 
pearance they be fitted or that otherwise they shall be pro- 
ceeded against according to Law; and you are to give in charge to all 
officers to warne those who are not able to bear armes themselves to 
have in their houses such Provisions as are by Lav/ required. 

" You are also to leave with the officers the form and method of trayn 
ing and diciplining Souldiers and in particular how to handle their arms 
and how the officers are to behave themselves in tlie head of their com- 
panies. Each Cap't with a Pike and Lieu't v^^ith a Partizan and the 
others according to their office; and all eap'ts are to take care that 
theire companies be full and that the fees belonging to the Muster Mas- 
ter be gathered by the Cap't and Peid to him and none spared at their 
Perrills. You are also to bring in a List of each -company that soe if 



Major Patrick MacGregorie. 57 



tliey be not full and compleat a due court may be taken with the cap'ts 
who are also required to show you all courtesy and civility during yout 
aboed with them: the same care is to be taken by you in viewing the 
horse and a Particular Exact List of them returned by you to mee. 

"THO: DONGAN." * 
In order to establish fur trading with the far Avestern Indians, Dongan 
in 1G85 granted licenses to Captain Johannes Roseboom of Albany, Abel 
Marion La Fontain, a French refugee, and others, to trade with these 
tribes. This expedition journeyed to Michilimackinac on Lake Huron 
and the Ottawas' country, and Avas so successful that the next year 
Captain Roseboom was again sent with a number of the young men of 
Albany, to trade with the OttaAvas. They were to pass the Vvfinter 
among the Senecas, and precede on their Avay in the Spring of 1687. 

A secoaid party was organized to start from Albany that same Spring 
with the intention of overtaking Roseboom's troop and proceeding west 
ward with them. Major MacGregorie, who had recently been appointed 
Ranger General of Staten Island, was selected by Dougan to lead the 
second party, and to take command of both when joined, as this com- 
mission shoAvs: 

" Thomas Dongan, Captaine Generall Governour and Vice Admirall of 
the province of New Yorke and dependencyes, 

" To Major Patrick Magregore, Greettiug:— Being Avell assured of youi 
loyalty Conduct and Courage I have Coramissionated and appoynted and 
by these presents doe Commissionate and appoynt yow the said patrick 
Magrigore To bee Captaine and Comandr In Cheife of such men as by 
my order j'ow are to go along with from Albany to the OttAvasse Countrey 
a tradeing. As also of a Company Avhich LikeAvise by my order yow are 
to OA'-ertake and proceede together with in the said Journey, which said 
Companyes as Captaine and Comander in Cheife yoAA^ are to Leade and 
Conduct in their sayd Journey to the said OttAA\asse Countrey and from 
thence back again to Albany. In the Execucon of Avhich office yow are 
to observe such Instructions and directions as yoAA' already haA'e or from 
time to time shall Receave from me Hereby Comandeing and Requyre- 
ing all and Every person and persons of the said Companyes to Give 
due observance and obedience to the said patrick Magregore in the 
premisses as they AA'ill ansAver the Contrary att their uttmost perrills 
this Commission to be in force one yeare and no Longer Given Under 
mj hand and Seale att ffort James this fourth day of december, 1686. 
And in the Second yeare of his Ma'ties Reigne. 

"THO: DONGAN. 
" By his Excellencyos Comand 

" IS. SWINTON." ' 
Meantime the Marquis DeNonville, Governor of Canada, having learn- 
ed of Roseboom's former expedition, wrote to Dongan, charging him 
with doing wrong in sending the English to Michilimackinac, and furnish- 
ing through traders the Indians Avith " Eau de Vie," which " converts 



58 Historical Papees. 



the savages into Demons." Dongan replied that he had " only permitted 
severall of Albany to trade amongst the remotest Indians," and he be- 
lieved it to be " as lawfull for the English as French nations to trade 
there." As to furnishing the savages with liquor he wrote, that care 
would be taken to disuade them from drunkeness, " though certainly our 
Rum doth as little hurt as your Brandy and in the opinion of Christians 
is much more wholesome." " 

Notwithstanding the Canadian Governor's protest, Roseboom's troop 
started from Albany in September, 1686, the refugee La Fontain accom 
panying them. " From Schenectady they travelled westward in canoes, 
twenty of which freighted principally with rum, were reported by James 
de Lamberville as having passed Galkonthiage near the head pf Oneida 
Lake." ' 

Before MacGregorie's departure, his wife, Margaret Toshack, the 
Laird's sister, gave birth to a son, who was in all probability the first 
white child born within the present limits of the County of Orange. The 
baby was christened Johannes on January 7th, 1687, in the Dutch Church 
at Kingston, the record naming Thomas Chambers and Laui'entia Kel- 
lenaar as witnesses. 

A short time afterwards and early in the Spring of that year, the 
Major with his company started on their journey, proceeding by the 
same general route as the advance party. In May, Roseboom's troop 
of twenty-nine Christians, three Mohawks and two Mahicans had 
reached a point in Lake Huron twenty leagues below Michilimackinac, 
when they were attacked and made prisoners by a party of French and 
Indians, numbering about a hundred and twenty, commanded by La 
Durantaye. The captives were brought back towards Niagara, and theit 
goods, which would have purchased eight thousand beavers, pillaged. 
At the Detroit of Lake Brie near the French Fort, Major MacGregorie's 
company of twenty-nine Christians, six Indians and eight prisoners (whc 
were being returned to their homes among the Ottawas) Avere set upon 
and captured by a vastly superior force of French and Indians. Thb 
Major's men were likewise plundered of their goods and merchandise, 
which would have brought eight or nine thousand beavers. Both the cap- 
tured parties were conveyed to Niagara and thence to Irondequoit Bay 
on Lake Ontario, where they were delivered to De Nonville, who was 
then engaged in an expedition against the Senecas. 

The French Governor ordered La Fontain shot as a deserter. The 
rest of the prisoners he sent to Cataraqui where they were very barbar- 
ously treated by the commandant and forced "to labour grevious hard" 
in building the fort and otherwise. AVhile there Major MacGregorie 
quarreled with one of the French officers and was kept in close confine- 
ment for a time, "■ because he did threate with his sword run through a 
Capt. being actually upon his duty." 

The cause of the dispute does not appear, but Governor Dongan in 
a paper to the French Agents wrote in regard to it: " What concernes 



Majoe Patrick MacGregobie. 59 



Major Magregory's pryvate behaviour is nothing to the publicqne, the' 
I beleeve it must bee some extraordinary provocacon that should urge 
him to offer any rudenesse to a person in that Captaines Circumstances." ' 

From Cataraqui the prisoners were talven to Montreal and received 
better treatment witJi greater freedom. Upon De Nonville's arrival, how- 
ever, he sent them to Quebec, Avhere they were put out to farmers and 
others to work for their food; but it seems were, nevertheless, civilly 
treated. Four of their number soon afterwards escaped and came in five 
days to Albany, making the journey all the way by water, except at two 
carrying places. Governor Dongan demanded of De Nonville the release 
of the prisoners, asserting the right of the English to trade with the Ot- 
tawas, " for they and the Indians who wear pipes thro' their noses, trad- 
ed with Albany long before the French settled att Montreall." " 

On October 2nd, 16S7, De Nonville informed the New York Governor 
that " in conformity with my Masters orders, and in response to the 
intentions of His Majesty, whose will I follow, directing me to do all in 
my power to contribute to the union that our Masters desire should exist 
between us, I have determined to send you back Sieur Gregory and all 
those you dispatched under his orders, being very happy to evince to 
you thereby the desire I hav(J to live well with you." '° 

The prisoners were thereupon liberated and shortly afterwards re 
turned to their homes. Roseboom's troop had been absent more than 
a year, and MacGregorie's not so long. During this time they had 
journeyed through tlie lakes until attacked by the French, suffered foui 
months' imprisonment and endured great hardships. It is related of 
Johannes Bleecker of Albany, one of the trading party, that he was eigh- 
teen years old when he left home with Captain Roseboom on September 
11th, 1686, and that he did not return until " after the second sermon " 
on Sunday, October 23rd, 1087. " 

Death now entered the new settlement on the Hudson and the Laird 
of Minivard was called away. An entry in the Council Minutes dated 
December 3d, 1687, shows that David Toshack was then dead and none 
having power to meddle with his estate, it was in danger of being em- 
bezzled. Whereupon the Council ordered Daniel Maskrig, late servant to 
Toshack, to " take all ye Indian goods and all ye personal estate which 
ye deceased died possessed of," into his custody, and to dispose of thf; 
goods, receive the indebtedness due from the Indians and render an 
account. 

In the latter part of November, though winter had now commenced. 
Major MacGregorie was again sent to Quebec with letters from Dongan 
demanding restitution of the arms and goods taken from his trading 
party, the destruction of several forts lately built by the French, and the 
release of all Indians of the Five Nations held as prisoners. It appears 
that he arrived at his destination " in good health on Dec. 3rd, in spite of 
the fatigue of the saison." He presented his dispatches, and finally ar- 
ranged with DeNonville to conduct to Albany two agents or commission- 



60 Historical Papees. 



ers, who at Dongan's suggestion were sent thore by the French GoTernor 
in order, if possible, to effect a settlement of the differences between this 
province and Canada. On tlie day before New Years MacGregorie once 
more faced the hardships of the wilderness and set out on his homeward 
journey. Father Frausiscus Valliant, a Jesuit, and Mons. Blambert Du- 
mont, the two Frencli agents, accompanied liim. On tlie way they were 
attacked by a band of drunken Mahican Indians, who abused the French- 
men and plundered them of part of their effects. However, they finally 
arrived safely at Albany, where the French agents immediately complain- 
ed of their treatment by the Indians, and the marauders were promptly 
ordered punished by Dongan. 

No mention is made of any public services rendered by the Major 
during the ensuing mouths luitil Autumn. He probably passed a con^ 
siderable portion of this period at his home on the Hudson. At all events 
he was present and took part in the christening held one daj^ that Spring, 
when the deceased Laird's son, David Toshack, was baptized. This 
ceremony was performed JMarch 13th, lOSS, by the minister of the Dutch 
Church at Kingston, and Patrick Mac Gregorie and his wife were tht 
witnesses. 

In the fall of this year the Major was. again called to active service. 
Sir Edmund Andros, now Governor of New York, as well as New Eng- 
land, sent him once more on that trying winter, journey to Quebec with 
messages for De Nonville. The Governor himself shortly afterwards 
led a considerable body of troops into Maine to attack the hostile Indian-i 
at Pemaquid. His expedition suffered severely, many of the men dying 
from exposure, and but little was accomplished in punishing the savage^, 
who retired to inaccessible localities. '- In order to protect the Maine 
settlements the Governor established garrisons at several posts there, and 
one of them he placed in charge of MacGregorie, giving him " the Com- 
mand of sundry troops fitted out against the Indians to the eastward of 
Pemaquid." " While he was doing garrison duty that winter in the Maine 
woods, the revolution occurred in England, and disturbances followed in 
some of the American colonies. An uprising of the people took place at 
Boston in April, Andros was arrested and thrown into prisma, and a 
Council of Safety assumed the government of Massachusetts. Soon af- 
terwards this Council ordered the garrisons withdrawn from Maine. 
Some of these troops deserted, others revolting seized MacGregorie and 
several of their officers and sent them bound as prisoners to Boston. 
The Majors confinement was short however, and late in June he set 
out for New York, carrying a letter from Andros to Stephan van Cort- 
landt, one of the Council, requesting him, among other things, to see to 
it that the bearer received his arrears oi pay. Upon his arrival he found 
affairs in an equally unsettled condition, and only succeeded in obtaining 
some thirty pounds on account Avith the promise of more.. 

Troublous times were now beginning iu this province. Andros was in 
prison. Nicholsen, his Lieutenant Governor, was unable to maintain au- 



Major Patrick MacGregoeie. 61 



tliority, ancl the favorable opportiTiiity was seized upon by Jacob Leisler, 
a captain of militia, to place hiniselL' in control of the government. In 
August a committee of safety, composed of Leisler's adherents, appointed 
him Commander-in-Chief of New York, and a little later he assumed the 
title of Lieutenant Governor. It is stated that MacGregorie, " offered 
Gapt. Leisler, if he vv-ould let him have but four men and a halbert, he 
would fetch Dougan up a prisoner." '* In making this offer the Major 
was probably influenced by resentment, because Dongan, while Governor, 
had failed to grant him a patent for the Murdei'er's Creek property. It 
is doubtful if he can be considered one of Leisler's adherents even at this 
time. He certainly opposed him later, and lost his life in the closing 
scenes of the strife. 

Where IMacGregorio passed the turbulent period that ensued seems to 
be rather uncertain. Perhaps he retired to the plantation at IMurderer's 
Creek, and there remained with his family. He Avas, however, a man of 
action, ever ready when there was fighting to be doni>, and so in March, 
1G91, he again appears at Now York, V(^here affairs had reached a crisis. 

Leisler with some of his followers had shut themselves in tlie fort and 
turned its guns on the cits'-. On the 17 Lh inst. those in the fort opened 
fire with cannon and musketry, killing two men in the streets and wound- 
ing a number of others. The shots were answered from the city, and 
in firing one of their cannon Major MacGregorie and several more were 
accidentally killed, either by a premature discharge or the explosion of 
the gun. The opportune arrival of Colonel Slaughter, the recently appoint- 
ed Governor from England, put an end to the strife, and Leisler, deserted 
by his adherents, surrendered the fort. The Council Minutes state that 
Major MacGregorie, " slain in His Majesty's service," Avas buried Avith 
public honors. He was undoubtedly a very capable officer, noted for his 
personal braA^ery, and he discharged the duties assigned to him Avith zeal 
and fidelity. From the meagre details Avhich have been preserved, it is 
evident that during the seven years of his residence in this country, his 
life was an almost unbroken succession of adventures. 

xifter his death his AvidoAV and children continued to reside at Murder- 
er's Creek, but soon misfortunes overtook them. Captain John Evans, of 
H. M. Ship Richmond, stationed here in lOW, obtained in that year from 
Colonel Fletcher, then (Tovernor of this province, a patent for a very 
large tract of land on the AA'est side of Hudson's River, extending from 
Stony Point north to the south line of New Paltz, and Avestward from the 
river to the SIuiAvangunk Mountains. This great grant included Avithin 
its bounds tAvo-thirds of Orange County and parts of Ulster and Rockland 
Counties. It Avas estimated to contain about six hundred and fifty thou- 
sand acres. The only settlement on the tract Avas that of the Major's 
heirs and folloAvers at Murderer's Creek, and tnese lands Avere included 
in the grant to Evans. In a letter to the Lords of Trade, the Earl of 
Eellomout Avrote, that MacGregorie's Avidow Avas " said to be compslled 
by Colonel Fletcher to sell her house and land to CUptain Evans for 30 or 



62 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



Historical Papers. 014 107 350 3 



35 pounds, to the ruin of herself and family." " The Captain leased to 
the Major's son Patrick, the tract he occupied, retaining the title in him- 
self. These great grants were investigated at Bellomont's suggestion, and 
the patent to Captain Evans vs^as vacated by Act of Assembly on May 
12th, 1G99. 

For a number of years afterwards the heirs of MacGregorie and the 
Laird sought to obtain title to the property they occupied, as their many 
petitions show. But though the Major had faithfully served his country 
and King, it was only after much difficulty that his family secured pa- 
tents for a portion of these lands. His heirs remained in possession of 
the property at Plum Point until 1727. They then sold it, and so passed 
away from his family the tract whereon Major MacGregorie located when 
he founded the first settlement in w^hat is now Orange County. 



REFERENCES. 



Archives of New Jersey, I, 459. 

Collections of New Jersey Historical Society, I, 299. 

N. Y. Colonial MSS. Land Papers, VII, 115. 

Report of State Historian of N. Y., 1896, Col. Series I, 392. 

Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., IX, 318. 

Ibid., Ill, 463. 

Eroadhead's Hist, of N. Y., II, 443. 

Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., Ill, 525. 

Documentary Hist, of N. Y., I, 268. 

Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., Ill, 512. 

Eroadhead's Hist, of N. Y., II, 443, note. 

Ibid., II, 522. 

N. Y. Colonial MSS., Land Papers, VII, 115. 

Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., Ill, 618. 

Ibid.. IV, 822. 



